Folding crate



(No Model.) 7

W. A. WHITAKER. FOLDING CRATE.

$10,596,561, Patented Jan. 4', 1898.

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I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. WHITAKER, OF ASH GROVE, MISSOURI.

FOLDING CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,561, dated January 4, 1898.

Application filed May fl, 1897. Serial No. 635,073. (No model.)

To a whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. WHITAKER,

ofAsh Grove,in the county of Greene and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Crates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in knockdown poultry-coops for use in transportation, the object of the same being to provide a coop of this character in which the upper part or frame is adapted to be folded down upon the bottom and thereby greatly reduce the bulk of the coop and facilitate handling empty coops in returning them to the chickenraiser.

The invention contemplates a particular construction of the coop which provides a strong and durable structure or coop when the frame is extended to receive the chickens. To this end the coop is made up of a closed bottom, to which are hinged posts at the corners, connected by upper cross-pieces,which form the end frames, the frames that provide the sides and top being made up of wire in such manner as to fold down upon the bottom without having to separate these parts.

lVith the above objects in view the invention consists in a knockdown poultry-coop comprising a closed bottom, corner posts hinged to the bottom to fold inward and connected by upper cross-pieces forming the end frames, wire frames hinged to the bottom to provide the sides of the coop, and a top consisting of several frames or sections in swinging engagement with each other and with the side frames, together with hooks for holding the parts extended.

In the following specification I have entered into a detailed description of the several parts which constitute my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the numerals thereon, which designate the different parts, and what I consider to be the novel features of construction are specifically recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective View of a coop constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig.2 is a side elevation showing the parts folded, and Fig. 3 is an end elevation.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates the bottom of the coop, which is made up in any suitable manner to present the raised side pieces 2 2, and to the ends of these raised side pieces are hinged posts 3, those at each end being connected by an upper cross-bar 4. The posts 3 and connecting cross-bars 4 provide strong frames that form the ends of the coop when they are extended at right angles with the bottom, and these frames are provided with cross-wires or poultry-netting of the proper mesh to prevent escape of the chickens. The frames are held in an upright position by means of the flexible braces 5.

The side pieces of the frame are constructed of lighter material than the end pieces, and to this end they are made up of the rectangular frames 6, having cross-wires or poultry-netnetting, and to the upper or free ends of the frames forming the side pieces of the coop are connected rectangular sections 7, which form a part of the top, the said top being completed by an intermediate frame or sect-ion 8. The frame 8 of the top is provided with parallel wires 9 9, with which awire frame 10, forming a door, engages, said frame being adapted to slide upon the parallel wires to close an opening in the intermediate section of the top, the sliding movement of said door being limited by the stops 12. The three frames or sections which form the top are of such width that when the side pieces 6 are raised the said sections are drawn tight to form the top. The side pieces are held in an extended position by means of the bolts 13, which are pivoted at the upper ends thereof and engage holes 14: at the upper ends of the corner-posts. By this construction and arrangement a cheap and efiective knockdown coop is provided in which the ends are made strong to receive other coops that may be placed upon the same as, well as to reinforce the top. The construction also provides a coop that is very light and can therefore be shipped at a reduced cost, the frame being adapted to be folded close to the bottom to occupy a minimum amount of space. In folding the coop the intermediate section of the them upon the bottom, while the fram es which l form the end pieces and are stronger than the sides form the upper part of the device when it is folded and will receive the wear or Weight which may be placed thereon.

By using a knockdown chicken-coop con- 1 structed as herein shown and described the cost in shipping chickens or poultry Will be reduced, as the coops will be returned 'to the poultry-raiser at a less cost on account of occupying a reduced amount of space.

The coop is also desirable for those who carry poultry to the market in wagons, for a number of coops can be folded and placed together and will occupy but little space.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A knockdown poultry-coop comprising a bottom, side pieces or frames hinged to the end thereof to fold inward, side pieces or frames hinged to the sides of the bottom, and a top made up of several sections hinged to each other andto the upper ends of the side pieces; together with devices for holding the parts extended, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

2. Aknockdown poultry-coop,comprisinga bottom having raised sides, frames forming the ends of the coop hinged to the bottom and connected to flexible braces; together with frames forming the sides of the coop and pivoted to the bottom, and a top madeup of severalsections hinged .to each other and to the upper ends of the side frame, the parts being held extended by hooks and eyes or equivalent means, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

3. A knockdown coop, comprisin g a bottom, posts hinged to the ends of the bottom to fold inwardly and connected by upper cross-pieces, wire frames forming the sides of the coop hinged to the bottom, and a top made up of three sections hinged to each other and to the upper ends of the side frames; together with means for holding the parts extended, and a sliding door in engagement with parallel wires carried by the intermediate sections of the top, the sliding movement of said door being limited by stops .or cross-Wires, substantially as shown and for the purpose-set forth.

v 4:. In a knockdown poultry-coop, the .combination with the bottom having raised side pieces, posts pivoted .to the ends of the side pieces to fold inward and connected to each other by cross-pieces forming end pieces which reinforce the other part of the coop, wire frames providing the sides of the coop and hinged to the raised side pieces, a top made up of several sections hinged to each other and to the upper ends of the side pieces, bolts or catches for connecting the side pieces or frames to the end pieces or frames, and an opening in the top covered bya sliding door, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. \VHITAKER. Witnesses:

A; H. EMERY,

I-I. WHITAKER. 

